Frequently Asked Questions

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to identify a business entity for tax purposes. It's sometimes called a Federal Tax Identification Number. You need an EIN to open a business bank account, hire employees, file business taxes, and apply for business licenses.

Usually 1-4 business days from when we submit your application to the IRS. The IRS processes applications during business hours, so submissions made over weekends or holidays may take longer. If the IRS returns a Reference 101 name conflict, your application has to be faxed to an examiner instead, which takes longer — we'll email you if that happens and explain what comes next.

Our team processes applications Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM ET. Applications submitted over the weekend are typically not processed until the following Monday.

You'll need: the legal name and type of your business entity, the responsible party's full legal name and SSN (or ITIN), your business address, the reason you're applying, and basic details about your business activity. Our step-by-step form guides you through exactly what's needed.

Yes. We take data security very seriously. Your SSN is encrypted at rest using AES-256-GCM encryption, transmitted only over encrypted HTTPS connections, and never included in auto-saved drafts. It is only sent to our servers on final submission. Payment card data is handled entirely by Stripe and never touches our servers.

The responsible party is the individual who controls, manages, or directs the entity and the disposition of its funds and assets. For a sole proprietorship, this is the owner. For an LLC, it's typically a managing member. For a corporation, it's usually a principal officer. The IRS requires this person's SSN or ITIN on the application.

When you authorize EIN Registration as your third-party designee, you're giving us permission to communicate with the IRS on your behalf regarding your EIN application. This is a standard IRS process, using the Third Party Designee section of Form SS-4. The authorization is limited to the EIN application only.

You may request a full refund at any time before we submit your application to the IRS. Once submitted, refunds are generally not available because the preparation work has been completed — with one important exception. If the IRS returns a Reference 101 name conflict, your application has to be prepared and faxed to an IRS examiner, which takes longer and needs additional documents from you. In that case the refund window stays open, and you may cancel for a full refund at any time up until we fax your application. If the IRS rejects your application due to an error on our part, we'll re-submit at no charge or issue a full refund — your choice.

No. We prepare and submit your application accurately based on the information you provide, but the IRS makes all final determinations. Common reasons for rejection include incorrect SSN, duplicate applications, or entity eligibility issues. If your application is rejected, we'll work with you to resolve it.

Yes. Foreign applicants who don't have an SSN can use an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) instead. Note that the IRS online application is only available to applicants with an SSN, so third-party services like ours are often the most convenient option for international applicants.

It depends on how your application was filed, and we tell you which applies in the email we send when we file. Where the IRS returns the number to us, we email you as soon as we have it. Where it doesn't — which happens on applications filed by fax, most commonly after a Reference 101 name conflict — the IRS releases the number only to the responsible party, so you obtain it by calling the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line. We email you when it's time to call, with everything you need for the call.

If your business was previously assigned an EIN, you'll indicate that on your application along with the prior EIN number. The IRS may issue a new EIN or direct you to use your existing one depending on your circumstances.

Email us at help@llc-ein.com from the address on your order and a team member will assist you. If your application hit an IRS Reference 101 and we've asked you for your formation documents, there's also a "Request a refund" button on the document upload page we linked you to — that's the fastest route. A person reviews every request and you'll get an email confirming the decision either way. Approved refunds go back to your original payment method and typically appear within 5 to 10 business days.

No we are not. We are not associated with the IRS, US Dept. of Treasury or any other federal or state organization. We are a document filing company that acts, on your behalf, as your Third Party Designee in obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) directly from the IRS and charge a fee of $197 for our services. You can also visit the irs.gov site and complete an EIN application yourself free of charge.